The Judgement of the Emperor

Pov Azula:

Almost a whole day had passed, the sun was already showing signs of nightfall, but I suspected that the gigantic amount of shining stars might make the night as bright as the sun itself. I was a little anxious to see such an astronomical event, but I could postpone that moment until later.

I followed Haruki while he was already in his dragon form and only now did I realize how big he really was, easily exceeding Aki's size by at least three times.

When he reached the base of Crystal Mountain, the White Emperor stopped walking and lowered his head so that I could climb on his back to make the climb easier. When we reached the top, we came upon a single cave, and I was surprised to see a large number of dragons ready for battle, all seemingly prepared for war.

- How many dragons are there? - I asked unconsciously when I saw the different types of dragons waiting at the entrance of the cave.

- We have more than 30 dragons standing guard here. - The White Emperor replied coldly.

When the dragons saw the leader of the spirit world, they quickly bowed their heads in respect, none of them daring to do otherwise. It was unbelievable for Azula to imagine that just one of them had more than enough firepower to easily match or surpass all of the human generals, a clear demonstration of the power the Celestial Dragons had acquired.

I quickly descended from the White Emperor's back and became the center of attention of all the dragons guarding the mountain's only entrance and exit.

To all the dragons, at first glance, it was practically unacceptable for a human to be in the Dawn Realm, especially if she was a bender of an element other than fire. Even though there were other spirits who mastered other elemental arts, the vast majority of the population belonged to dragons, so there was a certain obvious competition between the races.

Hana's reign in the past was mainly characterized by the unification of species and races, regardless of their elemental origin. Although this trait remains in Haruki's reign, he has spent the last nine millennia focusing on a society that is mainly based on strength and order.

A trait that was still reflected in the Fire Nation when the White Emperor himself went to the mortal world after the Eclipse War.

To the spirits who lived outside the borders of the Dawn Realm, the White Emperor's rule was no different from an authoritarian government in the amount of rules that were imposed to maintain the balance of the spirit world. There had been some spirits in the past who didn't agree with the rules imposed and demanded that the spirit world be completely free of rules, but this defiance of the White Emperor's authority caused many to witness the destructive abilities that the Celestial Dragons didn't use after the Eclipse War.

The spirit world, even after being rebuilt by the current Dragon King, still took thousands of years for the spirits to be reborn, but since they didn't go through the apocalyptic life experience that the Celestial Dragons suffered, they had two choices: One is to live under the constant protection of the dragons, or to live under the extremely strict rules of the dragons, while being able to suffer the dragons' punishment without any mercy.

Most spirits could live normally, coexisting peacefully with nature under the strict rule of the White Emperor, others fled to the human world out of sheer disobedience, and even some dragons followed this rebellious example.

The White Emperor is someone who can tolerate certain things, but to disobey his orders and underestimate the hidden dangers of the world was to declare war on himself and the Dawn Realm.

All this was explained to Azula, who understood a little more about the leadership role that Haruki had followed over the past millennia, and however questionable it might be, it was proof that these rules had kept the spirit world almost completely intact after its reconstruction.

- So, Azula, would you do anything different than what I did? - Haruki asked after explaining a little more about how he himself had tried to move on after his sister's death.

- Maybe someone in my position would say that they would do things differently and try to find other alternatives for balance. - I touched the ruby necklace that was around my neck with my fingers. - I've lived much of my life isolated and limited in my desires. Now that I have the opportunity to live the life I've always dreamed of, I would never allow myself to put my family in danger, especially my daughter, even if I had to make the whole world my enemy.

- I agree with your words, you will indeed be a great queen. - The White Emperor slowed his pace so Azula could keep up. - You and Kai have the opportunity to finally and completely unite the mortal and spiritual worlds. If you both win this 100-year war, you could easily prepare the world for the return of the spirits.

- This could lead to internal conflicts or even new wars. - I commented, analyzing Haruki's words.

- So the solution is simple: win. - The White Emperor stopped walking and stared at Azula. - Those who follow you must be protected, but those who defy you, let them be consumed by the flames of hell itself, let them serve as an example when they defy you.

The White Emperor's words subconsciously reminded me of my father, both of whom are very similar in how they view the world. Ozai was someone who gave up everything to get where he is, while the White Emperor still shared power with his family and maintained a certain authority as patriarch.

This made me realize that I was no different from the way Haruki thought. I admit that I had always wanted to rule the Fire Nation, but my years with Kai made me understand that the weight of government was much greater than I had imagined. Maybe this thought is stronger because I'll be a mother in a few months and I feel responsible to protect my heirs and give them a decent life.

I couldn't help but think of my mother, who always favored my brother and never loved us equally, to the point where she saw me as a monster. Maybe I am, I can't deny that I've done a lot of questionable things, but that's natural for me, so if that's the way to protect what I love, I'll gladly become a monster.

- Azula, if you go down a few more meters, you'll see Kai in his true form. - Haruki said seriously. - You have to be aware that he can't be the same man you met.

- What do you mean? - I asked and looked at the floor of the cave that was lit by small mushrooms.

- I don't think anyone but me knows, but Kai's behavior is something I've seen before. When my sister reached her teenage years, she was possessed by the bestiality of dragons. - Haruki confessed while maintaining his seriousness. - When a Dragon King Candidate reaches a certain age, he is completely dominated by uncontrollable bestiality, causing permanent personality changes.

- Personality change? - I asked worriedly. - You mean Kai could stop being the person I fell in love with?

- Not completely. My sister was someone who was extremely shy and peaceful. When she was possessed by the will of the past kings, her personality changed to that of a queen. - Haruki explained, walking slowly again, trying not to make too much noise. - Many know Hana as a great queen, but no one but me knew what she was like before. My own father told me that he had gone through the same thing.

- What should I do? - I stroked the necklace Kai had given me.

- I'm just warning you to prepare yourself for the personality changes he'll have when he regains consciousness. Besides, I want you to do me a favor. - Haruki stopped walking when he finally saw Kai sleeping on the other side of the crystal wall. - I need you to help Kai to speed up the recovery process.

- I'll be with him anyway and support him. - I said with determination.

- I'm not talking about that kind of support. - Haruki brought his paw closer and patted the princess's head, leaving her unconscious. - I'm sorry, but we dragons are the most sensitive creatures to emotions. Sometimes a quick solution can be found through methods that are simpler than they seem.

Haruki walked over, Azula being carried by her tail, her eyes glowing, causing a small portal to open, allowing Azula to be transported to the other side of the crystal wall, where she fell asleep next to Kai.

- My sister spent decades under the savagery of the kings, it took a long time for her to regain consciousness. With you there with him, you can speed up this process from decades to months, maybe even weeks. - Haruki returned to the exit.

It took the White Emperor a few minutes to reach the exit of the mountain, and he was once again greeted by all the dragons guarding the place. 

- Attention, no one should bother the two in the next few days. - Ordered the White Emperor, raising his wings and taking flight into the sky

***

Night fell over the Lands of Dawn, where many spirits slept in their homes, others rested with other groups, while others awoke from their nocturnal habits to begin their daily routines.

In a region with a desert climate, where there were mountains of sand and rocks as sharp as blades, hundreds of dragons and spirits were gathered. They all sat or stood in places that gave them a view of the center of a crater 200 meters in diameter.

In this rustic coliseum, there were eight large, sturdy rocks that served as seats and privileged vantage points. Most of these rocks were occupied by dragons, especially those that had been around for millennia. The one that stood out was a female dragon that had the classic characteristics of the Celestial Dragons and was practically calm and unperturbed by the commotion that was going on at that moment.

The dragons and spirits who did not have the hierarchical authority to be in these special seats screamed or roared from the stands as if to express their most hostile emotions. The focus of this hostility and aggression was entirely directed at a red dragon being crushed by the claws of the goddess of war, Aki.

The red dragon had no chance of escaping or freeing itself from the grip of Aki, who used her razor-sharp claws as blades, giving a simple warning that any attempt to escape could result in a less than pleasant injury.

A shuddering roar rang through everyone's ears, silencing all present as the king of the spirit world had finally arrived for judgment. 

The White Emperor descended from the clouds like lightning, landing gracefully on his gigantic wings, causing everyone to bow their heads as thunder rang out from the beating of his wings.

The red dragon who was to be judged was terrified, for it was the first time he was in the presence of the most powerful being in the spirit world, and he could not imagine or understand how a dragon could be so large.

- Let the trial begin! - said the White Emperor as thunderbolts fell menacingly from the sky.

Aki and Haruki's scarlet eyes flashed menacingly, making many realize that the decision might already have been made, long before a formal vote.

The group of elders was made up of dragons and spirits who had gained great power and wisdom during their lifetime, but it was also a democratic way to run the spirit world in matters that didn't involve war. However, even though it was rare, the White Emperor could ignore any democratic demand and impose his will, nothing could be done because he currently held the most power.

- You understand that you are in this position because you helped the Avatar, don't you? - The White Emperor asked, though the tone of his words sounded like a statement.

- White Emperor, I beg for mercy....

- SILENCE! - The White Emperor roared, causing lightning to strike furiously from the sky. - I told you there would be a trial, but nothing that happens here will let you off the hook for helping the Avatar!

Haruki turned to Chieko who was lying in her dragon form, seemingly oblivious to the events around her, but the White Emperor's simple look at his daughter caused her to awaken from her slumber and open her blood-colored eyes, unleashing a gigantic wave of killer instinct that made most of the witnesses and even Aki feel an overwhelming pressure.

Chieko was not more powerful than Aki, she herself had only ⅓ of her daughter's current power, but as one of the few survivors of the Eclipse War, she provided an indescribable bloodlust, a hidden taste for violence.

Chieko quickly leapt towards the red dragon that was being crushed by her own daughter. As a celestial dragon, she was taller than the average dragon in the spirit world; though she was 14 meters tall, she looked like a teenage version of Aki herself, who outweighed her by 2 meters.

When she was finally within reach of the dragon whose life was at Aki's mercy, Chieko gruesomely drove one of her claws into the red dragon's eye and used her power to forcefully enter the dragon's mind.

Chieko visualized everything the red dragon had seen, said and heard. Quickly realizing that this dragon was a simple pet of the Avatar, with virtually no pride of its own, when her examination of the traitor's memory was complete, her fury became palpable to everyone as she sunk her teeth into one of the traitor dragon's wings and tore it off, causing some to unconsciously take a step back at the sudden violence.

Chieko did not take long to recount what the traitorous dragon had witnessed, and every word that came out of his mouth was listened to intently, especially by the White Emperor, who held his muscles rigid, trying not to incinerate every last atom of the traitor.

In fact, the dragon was complicit in helping the Avatar and his friends escape the spirit world's banishment zone, not to mention actively plotting the Avatar's victory over the Fire Nation in the mortal world.

The Nation of Fire itself didn't matter to the dragons, since humans had long since begun a foolish hunt against the dragons themselves, but what did matter was that the Avatar had not only weakened the barrier that isolated the Eternal Dragons, but had also endangered the safety of the last descendants of the Celestial Dragon family.

- The Avatar's hypocritical arrogance had once again endangered the balance of the world. - said the White Emperor, his claws digging into the rock beneath his feet. - YOU WILL BE JUDGED FOR YOUR CRIME, WITH DEATH!

After the White Emperor's words, Chieko nudged her daughter to get away from the traitor, and both female dragons flew away from the center of the coliseum. The two women flew until they finally landed behind Haruki, who had raised his head to the sky.

The White Emperor's mouth opened, revealing a hellish red glow as the sky reacted to this simple movement, and the universe prepared for the new permanent change due to the technique that would be used. The dragon's scarlet eyes flashed and the sound of hundreds of thunderclaps echoed through the spirit world, a warning that the wrath of the king of the spirit world was about to descend upon someone.

A bolt of red lightning was unleashed in the direction of the red dragon who had helped the Avatar and his companions, his eyes reflecting pure despair, but there was nothing he could do. His body was cruelly struck by the scarlet rays, and he screamed in agony until his body vanished as if it had never existed.

Those who knew the nature of this attack were very afraid of suffering at the hands of such a cruel technique, and the mere thought of having their souls completely disintegrated caused many to lower their heads.

Immediately after the White Emperor disintegrated the traitor's soul, he let out a war roar that shook the entire spirit world, a warning that his next commands would be unquestioned or suffer his wrath.

- The Avatar proclaims himself the defender of the innocent, every life is sacred to him. - Haruki said with obvious sarcasm. - If humans are more important to his cause, then they will pay the consequences for his actions!

Chieko smiled macabrely, her scarlet eyes glowing maliciously, releasing an unquenchable thirst for blood, something that bothered Aki, as she didn't share the same sick taste as her mother.

- DESTROY THE SOUTH POLE! - Haruki declared, causing all the dragons to roar into the sky. - TURN ALL HUMANS WHO HELPED THE AVATAR INTO ASHES!

The White Emperor's wings spread to their fullest, creating a portal to the mortal world in the center of the coliseum, and it didn't take a second for Chieko to fly into the portal along with hundreds of dragons.

- Destroy the South Pole? Won't we have problems with the spirits of the moon and the ocean? - Aki asked, worried about starting a war between the two elements of life.

- La and Tui may reject this action, but they know very well that there will be consequences if they try to attack our family. - Haruki turned to her granddaughter. - The southerners are nothing but rebellious children and we know very well that Tui and La don't manifest on the southern side of the planet.

- It could still lead to a spiritual war. - Aki stood her ground, not wanting to provoke an unnecessary war.

- That's my order, I'll take care of those two later. - Haruki's eyes flashed wildly in Aki's direction, warning her not to question his orders. - We know that the people of this region freed the Avatar from his prison, and they are also responsible for the fact that we almost lost a new king and a descendant of our race.

Aki was silent, she knew that her grandfather was in a state of complete rage, probably the emotions of her sister's death could influence him to declare a massacre. Like Haruki, she had seen Hana in this pitiful state after 9000 years, it was a complete shock to their minds but they both had to keep their composure.

Haruki had never gotten over his sister's death, his good mood in the mortal world when Kai destroyed Hana's corrupted soul was the fact that she had finally been freed from the darkness, but that didn't mean that he wasn't angry at those responsible.

- Be ready to open the portal for your mother and the dragons when they return. - Haruki closed the portal and went back to his personal hiding place to rest. - It shouldn't take more than a few hours for the ice continent to be destroyed.

Next chapter: Wildness + 18